Everything you should know about PDC 2008

Sure, it's five months away, but that doesn't mean that you can't get ready …

Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference (PDC) is a conference mainly aimed at Windows software developers. The first one was almost 16 years ago, but the conference has not happened yearly; the event is only hosted when there is new Microsoft technology on the way. Naturally, with the sometime in 2009 or 2010 release of Windows 7 (about which we know oh so little), there is something to talk about this year.

Attendees typically come to learn about future of the Microsoft platform, check out upcoming products, exchange ideas with fellow professionals, talk to Microsoft's leaders and top engineers, and sometimes even write some code at the more hands-on labs. Just like the last few PDCs, where Microsoft unveiled technologies such as Microsoft .NET, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, PDC 2008 will be hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. The event, which will take place October 27-30, has already opened up its registration doors. While the preconference costs $400, the full conference registration is $2,395. If you register before August 15, 2008, the price is $2,195.

So, what exactly is worth that much? This year, Microsoft is expected to provide exclusive details on Windows 7, Windows Mobile 7 (and other mobile-related topics), and the "next generation of developer tools" (such as the Windows 7 multitouch SDK). Seeing as how Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's chief software architect, will be giving the keynote for the event, expect to hear a lot of talk about Microsoft's online services platform, including Live Mesh. There will be over 160 individual sessions at the event, as well as various types of "UnSessions." For a brief overview of how the five days will look like, make sure to check out the posted agenda.